SMART CONNECTION INTERFACE

• US 20160015911A1
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bazargan, Afshin, Lin, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,532,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1418 Threaded type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1481 with connection retaining means, e.g. thread or snap-fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/18 Arrangements for indicating condition of container contents, e.g. sterile condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1016 Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1022 additionally providing electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1094 at least partly incompatible with standard connectors, e.g. to prevent fatal mistakes in connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0272 Electro-active or magneto-active materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0288 Electro-rheological or magneto-rheological materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 : Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 : Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 : Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 : Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1055 : Rotating or swivel joints in general F16L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 : for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 : Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 : Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 : with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 : with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 : for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 : Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/00 : Electric or magnetic prospecting or detecting; Measuring magnetic field characteristics of the earth, e.g. declination, deviation
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/02 : operating with propagation of electric current
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 : operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The reservoir, a base and a cap are connected to form an integrated unit that is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing. The cap and the infusion pump are each provided with at least one sensor or at least one detectable feature, arranged to interact with at least one corresponding detectable feature or sensor on the other of the cap and infusion pump device, to detect one or more of the presence, position or other characteristic of the cap when the cap is aligned or coupled with the infusion pump housing. The detectable feature and sensor may be magnetic, RF, mechanical, optical or any combination.

Claims

1. A connector interface system, comprising:

a cap to connect to a reservoir to form a reservoir/cap unit for installation into a reservoir receptacle of an infusion pump device; and

at least one electrically detectable feature provided on the cap, the at least one electrically detectable feature including at least one first electrically conductive contact member that is arranged to come into electrical contact with at least one second electrically conductive contact member associated with at least one sensor element on the infusion pump device for detection by the at least one sensor element when the reservoir of the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

2. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically detectable feature has at least one detectable parameter that is associated with one or more characteristics of the cap, the reservoir, a cannula, or a tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

3. A connector interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one detectable parameter comprises one or more of:

the existence of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap;

the location or pattern of locations of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap;

the type of electrically detectable feature on the cap, the electrical resistance of the electrically detectable feature, or the electrical impedance of the electrically detectable feature.

4. A connector interface system as recited in claim 2, wherein the one or more characteristics comprises one or more of:

a type or identity of a manufacturer of the reservoir or the cap;

a size of the reservoir or the cap;

a type or concentration of infusion media in the reservoir;

a volume amount of infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date, expiration date, or fill date related to infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date or expiration date of the reservoir or the cap;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir or infusion media in the reservoir was made, filled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the cap was made, assembled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir, infusion media in the reservoir, or the cap is authorized to be used;

a lot number or code associated with a batch in which the reservoir, the cap, or infusion media was made, cleaned, filled, or otherwise processed;

a serial number;

a unique ID;

user identification information for authorized users;

a type, length, or size of the cannula;

or a type, length, or size of the tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

5. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members arranged at different respective locations on the cap.

6. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members in locations on the cap that allow one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members to come into electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member to provide detectable signals for detection of axial or rotational motion or position of the cap or the reservoir relative to the reservoir receptacle, when the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle.

7. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member is arranged on the cap, at a location to come into electrical contact with the at least second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device, but not in electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is not fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

8. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein each first electrically conductive contact member of each electrically detectable feature includes one or more of:

(a) an electrically conductive metal member, (b) an electrically conductive plating, (c) an electrically conductive coating, (d) an electrically conductive ink, or (e) a smooth strip or pad of electrically conductive material.

9. A connector interface system as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members includes a biased conductive portion that is biased radially outward relative to a housing of the cap.

10. A connector interface system, comprising:

a reservoir to be received within a reservoir receptacle of an infusion pump device, the reservoir to contain infusion media to be selectively dispensed from the reservoir when the reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle;

a connector interface to connect the reservoir with the infusion pump device, the connector interface comprising a cap to connect to the reservoir to form a reservoir/cap unit;

an infusion set coupled to the cap via a tubing for conveying infusion media dispensed from the reservoir; and

at least one electrically detectable feature provided on the cap or the reservoir, the at least one electrically detectable feature including at least one first electrically conductive contact member that is arranged to come into electrical contact with at least one second electrically conductive contact member associated with at least one sensor element on the infusion pump device for detection by the at least one sensor element when the reservoir of the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

11. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein the infusion set further includes a cannula, and wherein the at least one electrically detectable feature has at least one detectable parameter that is associated with one or more characteristics of the cannula or the tubing of the infusion set.

12. A connector interface system as recited in claim 11, wherein the characteristic of the cannula or the tubing of the infusion set comprises a size or length of the cannula, or a size or length of the tubing.

13. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one electrically detectable feature has at least one detectable parameter that is associated with one or more characteristics of the cap, the reservoir, a cannula, or a tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

14. A connector interface system as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one detectable parameter comprises one or more of:

the existence of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap or the reservoir;

the location or pattern of locations of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap or the reservoir;

the type of electrically detectable feature on the cap or the reservoir, the electrical resistance of the electrically detectable feature, or the electrical impedance of the electrically detectable feature.

15. A connector interface system as recited in claim 13, wherein the one or more characteristics comprises one or more of:

a type or identity of a manufacturer of the reservoir or the cap;

a size of the reservoir or the cap;

a type or concentration of infusion media in the reservoir;

a volume amount of infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date, expiration date, or fill date related to infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date or expiration date of the reservoir or the cap;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir or infusion media in the reservoir was made, filled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the cap was made, assembled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir, infusion media in the reservoir, or the cap is authorized to be used;

a lot number or code associated with a batch in which the reservoir, the cap, or infusion media was made, cleaned, filled, or otherwise processed;

a serial number;

a unique ID;

user identification information for authorized users;

a type, length, or size of the cannula;

or a type, length, or size of the tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

16. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members arranged at different respective locations on the cap or the reservoir.

17. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members in locations on the cap or the reservoir that allow one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members to come into electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member to provide detectable signals for detection of axial or rotational motion or position of the cap or the reservoir relative to the reservoir receptacle, when the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle.

18. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member is arranged on the cap or the reservoir, at a location to come into electrical contact with the at least second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device, but not in electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is not fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

19. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein each first electrically conductive contact member of each electrically detectable feature includes one or more of:

(a) an electrically conductive metal member, (b) an electrically conductive plating, (c) an electrically conductive coating, (d) an electrically conductive ink, or (e) a smooth strip or pad of electrically conductive material.

20. A connector interface system as recited in claim 10, wherein one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members includes a biased conductive portion that is biased radially outward relative to a housing of the cap.

21. An infusion pump system, comprising:

an infusion pump device having a reservoir receptacle to receive a reservoir containing infusion media and to selectively dispense the infusion media from the reservoir when the reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle;

the reservoir for containing the infusion media;

at least one sensor element held by the infusion pump device;

a connector interface to connect the reservoir with the infusion pump device, the connector interface comprising a cap to connect to the reservoir to form a reservoir/cap unit; and

at least one electrically detectable feature provided on the cap or the reservoir, the at least one electrically detectable feature including at least one first electrically conductive contact member that is arranged to come into electrical contact with at least one second electrically conductive contact member associated with at least one sensor element on the infusion pump device for detection by the at least one sensor element when the reservoir of the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

22. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one electrically detectable feature has at least one detectable parameter that is associated with one or more characteristics of a cannula or a tubing of an infusion set associated with the connector interface.

23. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 22, wherein the characteristic of the cannula or the tubing of the infusion set comprises a size or length of the cannula, or a size or length of the tubing.

24. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one electrically detectable feature has at least one detectable parameter that is associated with one or more characteristics of the cap, the reservoir, a cannula, or a tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

25. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 24, wherein the at least one detectable parameter comprises one or more of:

the existence of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap or the reservoir;

the location or pattern of locations of one or more electrically detectable features on the cap or the reservoir;

the type of electrically detectable feature on the cap or the reservoir, the electrical resistance of the electrically detectable feature, or the electrical impedance of the electrically detectable feature.

26. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 24, wherein the one or more characteristics comprises one or more of:

a type or identity of a manufacturer of the reservoir or the cap;

a size of the reservoir or the cap;

a type or concentration of infusion media in the reservoir;

a volume amount of infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date, expiration date, or fill date related to infusion media in the reservoir;

a date corresponding to a manufacturing date or expiration date of the reservoir or the cap;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir or infusion media in the reservoir was made, filled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the cap was made, assembled, or otherwise processed;

a location corresponding to a place where the reservoir, infusion media in the reservoir, or the cap is authorized to be used;

a lot number or code associated with a batch in which the reservoir, the cap, or infusion media was made, cleaned, filled, or otherwise processed;

a serial number;

a unique ID;

user identification information for authorized users;

a type, length, or size of the cannula;

or a type, length, or size of the tubing connected between the cap and the cannula.

27. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 24, wherein the infusion pump device includes electronics connected with an electronic memory, the electronics and electronic memory are configured to control the selective dispensing of infusion media from the reservoir when the reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle, the selective dispensing being based, at least in part on the one or more characteristics associated with the at least one detectable parameter in a table or other data arrangement stored in the electronic memory.

28. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 24, wherein the infusion pump device includes electronics configured to record information in a memory, the information corresponding to one or more of:

(a) at least one detectable parameter detected by the at least one sensor, (b) at least one characteristic associated with at least one detectable parameter detected by the at least one sensor, (c) location information corresponding to a geographic location of the infusion pump device when the at least one detectable parameter is detected, or (d) time information corresponding to a time or date when the at least one detectable parameter is detected.

29. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members arranged at different respective locations on the cap or the reservoir.

30. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member comprises a plurality of first electrically conductive contact members in locations on the cap or the reservoir that allow one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members to come into electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member to provide detectable signals for detection of axial or rotational motion or position of the cap or the reservoir relative to the reservoir receptacle, when the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle.

31. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact member is arranged on the cap or the reservoir, at a location to come into electrical contact with the at least second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device, but not in electrical contact with the at least one second electrically conductive contact member when the reservoir/cap unit is not fully received in the reservoir receptacle of the infusion pump device.

32. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein each first electrically conductive contact member of each electrically detectable feature includes one or more of:

(a) an electrically conductive metal member, (b) an electrically conductive plating, (c) an electrically conductive coating, (d) an electrically conductive ink, or (e) a smooth strip or pad of electrically conductive material.

33. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein one or more of the first electrically conductive contact members includes a biased conductive portion that is biased radially outward relative to a housing of the cap.

34. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the infusion pump device includes electronics for controlling the selective dispensing of infusion media from the reservoir when the reservoir is received within the reservoir receptacle, the electronics configured to inhibit dispensing of infusion media from the reservoir unless the at least one electrically detectable feature is detected by the sensor element.

35. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one second electrically conductive contact member is embedded in or affixed to a wall portion of the infusion pump device, within the reservoir receptacle.

36. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the second electrically conductive contact member includes a biased portion that is biased radially inward relative to an axis of the reservoir receptacle, the axis of the reservoir receptacle being along the axis of the cap or of the reservoir when the reservoir/cap unit is received in the reservoir receptacle.

37. An infusion pump system as recited in claim 21, wherein the second electrically conductive contact member includes a sheet or strip of electrically conductive metal material having two or more extension portions that are bent or folded partially to extend outward from the rest of the sheet or strip, the sheet or strip having sufficient flexibility to allow the extension portions to bend or fold further inward toward the rest of the sheet or strip when a pressing force is applied to the extension portions, and a natural spring force sufficient to bias the extension portions toward a non-pressed state.